Quote from Brian Connelly on August 20, 2019, 8:26 am

I would guess he'd be good to go tonight for a 3rd game in a row should he be needed. Munoz has yet to throw 3 days in a row and I doubt tonight will be the night he does. Conveniently, however, that'd make him available tomorrow night should Yates end up with 3 consecutive appearances.

... you called it.  Think Munoz gets the opportunity if it comes tonight.

Quote from Alex Tamayo on August 20, 2019, 12:11 pm

Could Hedges ego be any bigger? Him saying that he should be playing because of his defense, and that any offense he provides is "icing on the cake"  makes me think that he might not be trying to get better at the plate offensively, apparently he is fine with just excelling on the defensive side of the game, wich is a mediocre line of thinking if that is the case

Quote from MrPadre19 on August 20, 2019, 12:46 pm

Except he’s said several times he’s been working hard on his hitting.

I get why many are upset by his words but his actions seem to speak differently.

He seems completely supportive when not playing and “normally” says all the right things.

 

 

Quote from fenn68 on August 20, 2019, 1:09 pm

Since Hedges was drafted in 2011 with the scouting being ML quality defense but needing to develop a lot with the bat ... he has not really changed. Eight years of coaching / working hard on his hitting has not made an impact.

Not sure if it is just slow bat speed or the inability to recognize (and react) to pitch. Maybe working hard is just trying to perfect his high launch angle pull swing and cannot. Would think somewhere with a long string of batting coaches some would have tried to get him to convert to a more controlled / contact approach and go for hits v HR. Maybe he just does not want that approach.

Bottom line with over 1100 PA he has a line of 207/258/371 ... probably should recognize that is who he is no matter how hard he works.

Quote from Brian Connelly on August 21, 2019, 8:22 am

Quote from Alex Tamayo on August 20, 2019, 12:11 pm

Could Hedges ego be any bigger? Him saying that he should be playing because of his defense, and that any offense he provides is "icing on the cake"  makes me think that he might not be trying to get better at the plate offensively, apparently he is fine with just excelling on the defensive side of the game, wich is a mediocre line of thinking if that is the case

I took issue with this too, but didn't really take it as "ego"... more frustration/desire.  Hedges is the exemplar of a MLB C preparing for games; he sets the gold standard.  BUT...

To think that that preparation &  "just what I do behind the plate" is enough to justify him starting over Mejia batting .400+ in Aug is ridiculous... but it's exactly what the Pads have done the first 1,000 AB of his career (all resulting in way < .500 records & top 10 draft selections) b/c he's never had Mejia or anyone else to push him as an alternative.   Contrast Hedges words to Myers' where he hates the situation/bench, but recognizes he's put himself there.  Some of this IS on the Padres for sticking with him as acceptable status quo for so long... when it never was!

Hedges' thinking/recognition of who/what he is & if he's truly a team player that wants his TEAM to win for literally the first time in his career.  If he won't/can't, they strongly have to consider shipping him out, even though I don't really like the offense/offense idea of Mejia/A. Allen.  Maybe Mejia/Torrens?

Pads in Sept really need to break the freaking mold on this position in September:  If you have literally (one of) the BEST Defensive C & the BEST Offensive C in MLB... you need to utilize them differently!  WHY does a  C have to catch 9 innings when no P goes past 6 any more?  There's no "continuity" issue...

Sub in for Defense in close games you're winning & Offense in games you're losing... it's common sense!  Playing this way could directly result in more wins over the course of a season.

Quote from Brian Connelly on August 21, 2019, 8:26 am

Quote from Brian Connelly on August 21, 2019, 8:22 am

Quote from Alex Tamayo on August 20, 2019, 12:11 pm

Could Hedges ego be any bigger? Him saying that he should be playing because of his defense, and that any offense he provides is "icing on the cake"  makes me think that he might not be trying to get better at the plate offensively, apparently he is fine with just excelling on the defensive side of the game, wich is a mediocre line of thinking if that is the case

I took issue with this too, but didn't really take it as "ego"... more frustration/desire.  Hedges is the exemplar of a MLB C preparing for games; he sets the gold standard.  BUT...

To think that that preparation &  "just what I do behind the plate" is enough to justify him starting over Mejia batting .400+ in Aug is ridiculous... but it's exactly what the Pads have done the first 1,000 AB of his career (all resulting in way < .500 records & top 10 draft selections) b/c he's never had Mejia or anyone else to push him as an alternative.   Contrast Hedges words to Myers' where he hates the situation/bench, but recognizes he's put himself there.  Some of this IS on the Padres for sticking with him as acceptable status quo for so long... when it never was!

Hedges' thinking/recognition of who/what he is & if he's truly a team player that wants his TEAM to win for literally the first time in his career.  If he won't/can't, they strongly have to consider shipping him out, even though I don't really like the offense/offense idea of Mejia/A. Allen.  Maybe Mejia/Torrens?

Pads in Sept really need to break the freaking mold on this position in September:  If you have literally (one of) the BEST Defensive C & the BEST Offensive C in MLB... you need to utilize them differently!  WHY does a  C have to catch 9 innings when no P goes past 6 any more?  There's no "continuity" issue...

Keep the splits in Starting Time as have recently, but Sub in for Defense in close games you're winning & Offense in close games you're losing at C just as did in OF with Franmil Reyes... it's common sense!  Playing this way could directly result in more wins over the course of a season.  Far outweighs the "risk" of the sub getting injured the last 3 innings leading to emergency C.

 

Quote from Brian Connelly on August 21, 2019, 8:34 am

Quote from fenn68 on August 20, 2019, 1:09 pm

Since Hedges was drafted in 2011 with the scouting being ML quality defense but needing to develop a lot with the bat ... he has not really changed. Eight years of coaching / working hard on his hitting has not made an impact.

Not sure if it is just slow bat speed or the inability to recognize (and react) to pitch. Maybe working hard is just trying to perfect his high launch angle pull swing and cannot. Would think somewhere with a long string of batting coaches some would have tried to get him to convert to a more controlled / contact approach and go for hits v HR. Maybe he just does not want that approach.

Bottom line with over 1100 PA he has a line of 207/258/371 ... probably should recognize that is who he is no matter how hard he works.

Good analysis.  Hedges correctly recognizes he's never going to be .275 / .350 guy so sells out for his one offensive "plus": Power.... but it just doesn't feel like this approach has EVER worked, so why NOT try something new?   Good UT article earlier in year talked about how Hedges & Myers' extreme pull approach negated a lot of their inherent advantage vs LHP b/c they simply know they're not going to change their approach & know how to go after them.

It's one thing if you're succeeding & don't want to change, but come on...

Quote from 3fingersplit on August 21, 2019, 10:32 am

Hedges biggest problem has been and will continue to be his garbage fly away hand swing that pulls him off the ball everytime and then throw in his constant rolling out on his front foot and his front shoulder pointing at the dugout it's no wonder he has the average he does.

Quote from WindsorUK on August 21, 2019, 10:48 am

Hedges ALWAYS swings to pull. It would be comical if he weren't so bad at the dish.

On his birthday, he ACTUALLY stayed with pitches on a few at bats and ACTUALLY got hits up the middle or to right.

So, he knows what he's supposed to do and can do it, he just chooses not to, for whatever reason.